‘Has to stop’: AFL boss makes strong statement after four players racially abused

Online racial abuse is a scourge which has been widely condemned after a weekend of ugly incidents rocked four clubs.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 09: AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan speaks to media during the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Launch at Malthouse Theatre on March 09, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

After four instances of racial and homophobic abuse towards four players within 24 hours the AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has called for the behaviour to stop.

Brisbane star Charlie Cameron, Fremantle duo Nathan Wilson, Michael Walters and Adelaide star Izak Rankine were all subjected to vile online abuse after games in Round 4.

It came two weeks after Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan raised his jersey and pointed to his skin in a show of defiance having also copped abuse from the stands against St Kilda.

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All four clubs condemned the abuse, and McLachlan called for a stop declaring it hurts “all Indigenous players and players of colour across the league”

“This has to stop,” McLachlan said.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says enough is enough. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

“It not only hurts the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players targeted but all Indigenous players and players of colour across the league as well as their families, their teammates and friends.

If you see something, say something.https://t.co/KAVi8GEvCL

— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) April 11, 2023

“We strongly support all our players and condemn the racial vilification of anyone in football and anyone in the wider community.”

Brisbane Lions CEO, Greg Swann, called the behaviour “cowardly” and supported any punishment handed out after reporting the abuse to the AFL Integrity Unit.

“I’m angry and disappointed that Charlie, and we as a footy Club as well as an industry have to constantly deal with this. I’m bewildered it continues to happen,” he said.

Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron is one of several Indigenous players that have been racially abused. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

“It’s cowardly behaviour, hiding behind social media and abusing and attacking our players.

“We have reported the incident to the AFL Integrity Unit and beyond this statement, we want to take a strong stance against this happening and support any repercussions that the perpetrator may face.”

The coach of the Adelaide Crows coach has come out swinging following a vile racist comment directed at star Izak Rankine. #9Newspic.twitter.com/5JCiW7sCmE

— 9News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) April 11, 2023

Dockers chief executive Simon Garlick said the abuse was “unnecessary and disgusting” and should not happen.

“Individuals that hide behind fake accounts to hurt others are pathetic and we need to be able to kerb this capability on social platforms,” he said.

“In the meantime, I urge fans to use this conversation to call out racist and homophobic slurs for the abhorrent and archaic discourse that it is.”

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks branded abuse of Rankine as a “cowardly act”.

“It‘s just someone who is trying to hurt,” Nicks told reporters.

“If someone is going to the trouble of covering up their identity, it‘s not an actual account, it’s never been used - to me that’s a sign that we’re not actually dealing with a human being, we are dealing with someone who is just trying to be divisive.”